Israeli Folk Dancing

I was reporting on Judaism and went to observe Israeli folk dancing. Two of my classmates were there when I arrived in the circle dancing along. They told me to come on and jump in as well. It's pretty cool and something different. There's a lot of grapevine step, swaying and snapping in the air while in a circle, usually hand-in-hand.

The group meets at the Texas Hillel (Jewish student center in Austin) near the UT campus. Classes are free and go from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

You wouldn't think you'd get winded from circle, folk dances, but you will definitely make use of the water provided. The hour I was there one of the group's founders yelled out about five times in an effort to encourage the panting college students, "It's good for the thighs!"

Texas Hillel Calendar

France Riots

Youth Riot in France

France is a crazy country.

I love how America is evil, and yet they've got a president who has called immigrant, minorities in the projects "scum" when he was a part of the police force.

It's an awful situation. France has an extremely bold backlash of violence on their hands that tells me these kids from the projects have been burned by the police one too many times.

This time it all began with two teens who died in a car accident with the police. The riots of 2005 began with teens electrocuted in a situation where they were hiding from the police.

Libraries, stores, 70 vehicles! have been torched. That's crazy. Police have even been shot. I think it's probably time that the state look at racial tension, poverty, police conduct and violence and work to better its situation and regain trust from the youth, the minorities and the families in the projects.

Maybe they could think it over with some freedom fries. Just kidding. I saw the opportunity and thought I'd end on a controversial note.

Austin Events

FYI: The Hudsons play every Thursday nights starting around 6:30 p.m. at Waterloo Icehouse on 6th and Lamar. Everyone should go see them at sometime. The Hudsons are made up of two guitarist-singer-songwriter friends Brian Hudson and Hudson Mueller. The two were in opposing bands in a battle of the bands in high school.

The Hudsons were voted best folk band of 2006 by the Austin Chronicle and finished No. 7 of 100 bands that competed for a slot at Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Check it out:
The Hudsons Music

ALSO:
12/1/07 Reggae Night @ Copa, 10 p.m.
12/8/07 Seth Walker @ The Saxon Pub, 11 p.m. <---Awesome Blues Musician!

Weslaco Panther Playoffs

McAllen @ Weslaco

Weslaco High School, my alma mater, is now in the regional playoffs. My brother is a junior and second-year starter on the defense. He's in the clip above recovering a fumble. I'm so proud of him and this team.

The area game was in Weslaco this past Friday. It was misting constantly and in the 40s, but the excitement of the game kept us warm. The stands were filled with yellow ponchos, blankets and people carefully walking up the wet bleacher steps with watery, concession-stand hot chocolate.

The game was close. Final score 40-38. Injuries and interceptions. Fumbles and sacs. I forgot how much fun high-school, TEXAS football was!

Free Rice

The United Nations has designed an online, vocabulary game called Free Rice that anyone can play and help feed the hungry. For every synonym matched correctly, the UN donates 10 grains of rice to its World Food Program.

Here's how it works: As you play, advertisements will appear at the bottom of the screen. The money paid for that ad will then go to buy the amount of rice you earn by playing. The Web site does not make any profit the site.

There are 50 different vocabulary levels, and according to the site, it will automatically adjust to your level after a variety of words have been drawn from in the first few questions.

I find this concept a little weird because I'm supposedly feeding hungry people by sitting on my ass in front of my computer. Nevertheless, I'll be playing. You should too.

UT Schools for Schools

High schools and colleges across the nation are teamed up with schools in Uganda through Invisible Children's Schools for Schools program.

The participating schools are raising funds for school supplies and books in Uganda to keep/get things up and running.

The University of Texas has raised a whopping $247 of their $8,829 goal.

Get involved! Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on the roof of Whole Foods.

December 2: Screening at First Evangelical Free Church

Have You Lived Today?

I finally met my friend's roommate on Friday. Sunday morning my friend found her roommate dead in their apartment. Nothing self-inflicted. Nothing the police could identify as an outside cause. They suspect the heart or brain at the root of her death.

Picturing someone lively and active, being loud and talking about her fiance back in New York as she played card games three days ago and finding out she is no longer with us is a shock.

I thought I would just briefly share. What are you treasures in life? I'm guessing their people. I automatically think of my parents and boyfriend. Take care of the ones you love. Live your life the way you intend it to be. It's far too easy to get caught up going through the motions.